Arendtsville doorbell-prank shooter pleads guilty

Eric Lee Steinour, 29, could face up to four years in prison

A Biglerville man charged with shooting a teenager who rang his doorbell before running away pleaded guilty to two counts of recklessly endangering another person in Adams County Court on June 17.

Eric Lee Steinour, 29, could face up to four years in prison — two years maximum for each count — if he receives the maximum possible sentence on Sept. 15, said Adams County District Attorney Shawn Wagner. Steinour's other four charges — two counts of aggravated assault, simple assault and disorderly conduct — were withdrawn.

Steinour was arrested Jan. 17 around 4 a.m., hours after the shooting in the 100 block of Main Street in Arendtsville following a police interview with the 14-year-old male victim at Gettysburg Hospital, according to charging documents.

Steinour admitted to shooting at kids who rang his doorbell with a 9 mm handgun to scare them, according charging documents.

The victim told police that after he realized he had been shot, another man helped him call his mother and carried him to his mother's car, charging documents state.

Because he used a gun in the commission of the offense, the state's deadly weapon enhancement application could increase Steinour's sentencing guidelines, Wagner said. A pre-sentence investigation will be conducted before Steinour is sentenced in September, Wagner said.

Mark Walters covers Adams County for The Evening Sun. Contact him at 717-637-3736 ext. 147.